
AN 



APPEAL 



CITIZENS OF PENNSYLVANIA 



ON P.KItALF I'F THE 



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PHILADELPHIA: 

J. B. LIPPIISrCOTT & CO. 
1865. 



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A P P E A L 



CITIZENS OF PENNSYLVANIA 



0\ RKIIALF f r THE 




PHILADELPHIA: 

J. B. LIPPIKCOTT & 00. 
1865. 



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CITIZENS OF PENNSYLVANIA 



ON BEIIA1,F OF THE 



HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 



It is an obvious duty of the citizens of Pennsylvania 
to collect and preserve the materials of its history. 

Here, in Pennsylvania, one hundred and eighty-three 
years ago, its illustrious founder, William Penn, com- 
menced the establishment of a great Commonwealth, 
on the firm basis of equal rights and freedom of con- 
science to all persons who would become inhabitants 
within the bounds of his extensive grant from Charles 
II., King of England. A grant, however, which he did 
not consider as giving a good title to the soil embraced 
in his patent until he had, at Shackamaxon, under the 
shadow of the great elm tree, and by subsequent 
treaties with the Indians, who were the original inhab- 
itants, obtained their consent to his possession of the 
"site of Philadelphia and the adjacent country," and 
afterwards to the other parts of the Province. 

A Commonwealth thus commenced on principles of 



justice and equity, and '"by deeds of peace," and which 
has advanced in a wonderful career of prosperity and 
greatness, deserves the attachment of its citizens, and 
the most earnest and careful efforts to preserve the ma- 
terials of its history, not onl}^ as a grateful and interest- 
ing memorial of the past, but as a means of securing 
and advancing its future prosperity and happiness. 

To assist in accomplishing these objects, the Historical 
Society of Pennsylvania was established. 

In a circular, under date of June 21, 1825, a few 
months after its organization, the Society announced 
that its objects w^ere to trace all the circumstances of 
the early settlements of Pennsylvania; its successful 
progress and its present state; to collect all the docu- 
ments and written or printed evidence, and the tradi- 
tionary information that may be attainable; and to 
select what may be deemed generally interesting and 
instructive for publication ; and to preserve for future 
use and reference all the materials of history which the 
Society could be able to collect. 

Although laboring under great inconvenience for the 
want of a suitable building to hold its meetings, and 
where its books, manuscripts, paintings, engravings, and 
other valuable historical materials and memorials would 
be secure from loss by fire or other casualties, the 
Society has, nevertheless, collected a large and valuable 
library, containing nearly nine thousand volumes, besides 
a great amount in number and value of the other his- 
torical treasures above mentioned. It has also published 
seven volumes, containing most valuable and interesting 



memoirs and papers illustrating the history of Pennsyl- 
vania, and has recently reprinted the first volume of its 
publications, which appeared in 1826 ; the first imprint 
being very scarce, a republication became desirable. 

The Society has its rooms in the third story of the 
AthemBum Building, in Sixth Street, below Walnut, — a 
location in many respects inconvenient and insecure; 
and entirely insufficient to properly arrange its large 
and increasing library and other treasures, or to accom- 
modate the members either for their stated or occasional 
meetings, or for their individual use of the books and 
papers of the Society. 

The time has now arrived when it has become neces- 
sary that a suitable building should be erected for the 
Society. A building which will be convenient for its 
members and the public generally, and be rendered 
entirely fire-proof for the preservation of its treasures. 
The importance of securing a safe dejDository for these 
precious books, papers, etc., cannot be overstated. The 
history of our country illustrates the necessity of such a 
structure. For the want of a fire-proof building, the 
early archives of New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New 
York, New Jersey, North Carolina, and Virginia have 
been entirely or partially destroyed by fire. Valuable 
papers and documents of the United States Government 
have, on several occasions, been lost from the same cau'fee, 
namely: in 1800, when the buildings used b}- the War 
Department were destroyed by fire; in 1833, when the 
Treasury buildings were consumed; and again in 1836, 
when documents and papers of great value, historically 



as well as in a pecuniary point of view, were lost from 
the same cause. 

In 1814, when the public buildings at Washington 
were burned by the British troops, and a large part of 
the records of the War, Navy, and Treasury Depart- 
ments were consumed, it is interesting to note that a 
portion of the valuable papers of the War Department 
were saved from destruction in consequence of being 
deposited in rooms in the building which had been 
rendered fire proof. 

The recent conflagration of the Smithsonian Institu- 
tion, at Washington, furnishes additional evidence of the 
necessity of providing a fire-proof building for our So- 
ciety. The Institution was a repository of works of art 
and of science, and of objects of natural historj^ It 
contained treasures of incalculable value; and yet the 
main building was so combustible and insecure that it 
was destroj^ed by reason of a defective flue. It appears 
that some workmen were arranging a collection of Indian 
' paintings, of great value, and the day being cold, a stove 
was put up; and it is supposed that the pipe was in- 
serted in the defective flue! There is a grievous fault 
somewhere, that such a building should have been so 
improperly constructed. There is one fact connected 
with this sad event which speaks to us with emphasis, 
namely: the west wing of the building, containing the 
library of over 30,000 volumes, was not injured, because 
it was separated from the main building by fire-proof 
walls. It is naively stated in the newspaper accounts 
of this deplorable event, that the building can be recon- 



structed or repaired in six months; but the works of 
art, the records, and the results of years of research are 
gone forever. Let us not be unmindful of the lesson 
which such an event teaches us. 

Our sister Historical Society of New York narrowly 
escaped from the loss of its library, historical collections, 
and papers, on the occasion of the fire which burned a 
portion of the New York University buildings, where 
the Society had its rooms. It has since seen the pro- 
priety of erecting the suitable and secure building which 
it now occupies, and which was erected at a cost of 
$85,000; and is a monument to the liberality and public 
spirit of the citizens who contributed the funds to accom- 
plish so good and useful a work. Among the contribu- 
tors were several ladies of that city, who have thus set 
an example worthy of imitation here and elsewhere. 
This remark is especially applicable to societies like these 
under consideration, whose objects are of so general and 
beneficial a character, and of which ladies may become 
members ; and if they do not wish to become such, they 
are always welcome visitors to their halls, an^ to their 
meetings when addresses are made and papers read. 

One of our distinguished members, now deceased, has 
given a striking illustration of the necessity of possessing 
a secure building; by his will he has bequeathed to the 
Society, to take effect at a future day, his large and 
valuable library, on condition that a fire-proof building 
is erected. Other liberal benefactors will no doubt be 
found, when it is known that the Society have provided 
all the means which modern science and ingenuity can 



suggest or contrive, to preserve from destruction the 
treasures which may be in its possession. 

For the reasons thus succinctly stated, we most 
earnestly appeal to the citizens of Pennsylvania, and 
especially to the citizens of Philadelphia, where the 
Historical Society is located, to furnish the means to 
erect a handsome and convenient fire-proof building, in 
a central part of the city, for the use of this Society; 
where its valuable treasures Avill be secure, where its 
library and collections may Ido properly arranged, and 
where it will have ample room for its stated meetings, 
and a hall of suitable dimensions where addresses may 
be made and paperg read on historical subjects, which 
the public generally may be invited to attend. 

We remark, in concluding these observations, that in 
addition to the printed books, of which there are, doubt- 
less, other copies in existence, although many of them 
are scarce, and some perhaps not again attainable, the 
Society possesses many manuscripts, and other materials 
of history, of which, it is believed, there are no dupli- 
cates in existence. The loss of these would be irreparable. 

Subscribers may, at their option, make their subscrip- 
tions payable in four pa3^ments; that is to say, one-fourth 
on the first of Februarj^, 1865, and the balance in three 
yearly payments. Subscriptions made after February, 
1865, will be payable in four instalments, dating the 
first payment as if made in February, 1865. 

Annexed to this appeal will be found the names of the 
committee who have the general charge of the subject. 
Contributors may indicate to any of the gentlemen therein 



luentioned the amount and terms of their subscriptions, 
which will be reported to the committee from time to 
time, and when paid, will be securely invested for future 
use; and when a sufficient amount is subscribed, mea- 
sures will be taken to select and purchase a suitable lot 
of ground, and to proceed to the erection of an appro- 
priate building. 



RespectfuU}^ submitted. 



JAMES ROSS SNOWDEN, 
JOHN JORDAN, Jr., 

Committee. 



HisTOKiCAL Society of Pennsylvania, 
Philadelphia, Jan. 31st, 1865. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



llrll" Hill' 

014 207 182 4 



BUILDING FUND COMMITTEE. 

John M. Read, Chairman, 
Charles Macalester, Treasurer. 
James Ross Snowdex, Secretary. 



Joseph R. Ingersoll. 
Joseph Harrison, Jr., 
Joseph Patterson, 
Joshua Francis Fisher. 
William Duane, 
S.^ Morris Waln, 
A. G. Coffin, 

H. N. 



John Jordan, Jr., 
John William Wallace. 
William Bucknell, 
A. G. Cattell, 

J. GiLLINGHAM FeLL, 

Cephas G. Childs, 
George W. Ball, 
Burroughs. 



foem of bequest. 

I give and bequeath to the Historical Society of 
Pennsylvania, the sum of dollars; 

or my library, or my manuscripts, or papers, (describing 
them,) or the following described property, (here insert 
description.) 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




HoUinger Corp. 
pH 8.5 



